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GCSE maths calculator skills
Practise the calculator skills that make homework and GCSE revision more accurate, with clear examples for Foundation and Higher.
Open the free calculatorA GCSE calculator for revision and homework
Use this free online GCSE maths calculator to check calculations while practising Foundation or Higher questions. A clear input screen helps you see brackets, fraction boxes and root bars before you calculate. Exact answers let you compare your working with a fraction or surd in a mark scheme.
Keep your written method. A calculator can check a numerical answer, but it does not show every step needed for method marks. When you practise a non-calculator question, work it out first and use the calculator afterwards to check.
Foundation calculator skills
Practise entering a whole calculation correctly, using brackets and checking whether the result is a sensible size.
- Order of operations: compare with .
- Fractions of amounts: calculate three quarters of 24 as .
- Percentages: calculate 15% of 80 as .
- Rounding: keep the unrounded value until the final answer.
Three quarters of 24 is 18. Using fraction boxes keeps the numerator and denominator together.
Higher calculator skills
Higher revision often needs square roots, powers, standard form and trigonometry. Check the structure of the expression and the angle mode before pressing equals.
- Pythagoras: enter to calculate the hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle.
- Compound numerators: keep all of above the fraction bar when dividing it by 2.
- Standard form: enter the exponent in the power box, for example .
- Trigonometry: use DEG for degree questions and inverse trig when finding an angle.
A quick check: the right-triangle example gives a length of 10.
A reliable checking routine
- Estimate the size of the answer before typing.
- Enter the entire expression, including brackets, powers and fraction denominators.
- Check DEG or RAD against the question.
- Read the exact answer, then use S↔D if a decimal is required.
- Round once at the end and include the correct units.
For a negative number raised to a power, brackets matter: , while . The square in the second expression applies to 3 before the minus sign. Here, pressing Square after entering -3 squares the negative number. Enter when you want the minus sign outside the square.
Revision calculator and exam calculator
This browser calculator is intended for homework, teaching and revision. In an actual examination, follow your school and exam board's calculator rules and practise with the physical calculator you will take into the exam.
Read what to look for when choosing a GCSE maths calculator before buying or changing a model.
GCSE calculator questions
Can I use it for Foundation and Higher?
Yes. The same arithmetic and scientific functions can check numerical calculations from either tier. Choose functions that match the question and keep the required working.
How do I show a decimal instead of a fraction?
Press S↔D after calculating. Use the decimal for rounding questions and retain the exact form when the question asks for an exact answer.
Do I need an account?
No. Open the calculator and start. Display preferences are saved in your browser; phones and tablets keep Standard text.